Appeals 2026 entry

If your child is due to start secondary school in September 2026, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Monday 2nd March 2026).

You need to submit your appeal before Monday 30 March 2026 for it to be considered . Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.

You need to submit your appeal before Monday 30^th March 2026. Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.

For appeals related to in year applications, appeals will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.

How to lodge an appeal

Please submit the Secondary Appeal Form 2026 when appealing. Click here for a copy of the form and submit by post to the Admissions Officer, or by email.

Contact details: Miss C Bullard- Admissions officer

admissions@st-anselms.org.uk

Miss C Bullard

St Anselms Catholic School

Old Dover Road

Canterbury
CT1 3EN

Please include any supporting evidence you wish the panel to consider with your appeal form.

A copy of the Admission Appeal Defense Statement is shown here. This is submitted by the school to the appeal board along with the Appeal Form and supporting documents supplied by the appellant.

FAQ regarding how appeals will be conducted this year. Click here.

Appeal a school offer - Kent County Council

Appeals timetable

Event	Date/Timeline
Main admissions round - National Offer Day	Monday 2 March 2026
Deadline for lodging an appeal for applications made in the normal admissions round	Monday 30 March 2026
Appeal Hearings heard for applications in the main admissions round	Monday 18^th May to Thursday 2st May 2026
Deadline for lodging an appeal for in-year applications	Within 20 school days of the date of notification that your application was unsuccessful
Late applications for the main admissions round – appeals heard	Within 40 school days of the appeals deadline where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged
In year applications – appeals heard	Within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged
Appeals clerk sends parents/carers notice of the deadline date for the submission of additional evidence and the appeal hearing date and time	At least 10 school days before appeal hearing
Appeals clerk sends appeal papers to parents, admission authority/school and panel members	At least 5 school days prior to the hearing date
Decision letter is sent to parents/carers and admissions authority/school	No later than 5 schools days of the appeal hearing or, in the case of multiple appeals, within 5 school days of the last appeal hearing.